Spring-motor.



T. CLWHITING.

SPRING-MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED AUGJT. I916.

Pawnted Mar. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

FIG A.

T. C. ,WHITING. v

SPRING MOTOR. APPLICATION Hun RUG. u. 191m Patented Mar. 19, 191

-3 SHEETS-SHEET '2.

FIGE

IlllllllllllllIll!IllllllfllIIIIllI!llllIll!llllllllllllldllllllfli llEliIliWlllIlll lllllllll 'lllilllllilllllillll w Mm T. C, WHlT'iNG.

SPRING MOTOR.

APPLIGA-T'IQN FILED AUG-II} I916.

rammed Mar. 19%,, 1918.

3 suzs-rs-suzar a.

n/fffw'ny.

srame-mozroa.

meagre.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. is, 1918'.

Application filed Au ust 17, 1916. Serial No. 115,503.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, THEo CLIFFORD WHIT- ING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring-Motors, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention may be employed with particular advantage in the construction of motors for rotating phonograph or gramophone so-und. record disks. constructed aid arranged such motors are not only cestly to manufacture but produce an objectionable noise by their operation, which. noise is augmented by the acoustic properties of the casings in which such motors are mounted. It is an object of my invention to lessen the cost of manufacture of such motors and render them practically noiseless by a more compact construction and arrangement of their essential'elements, in a frame formed-of wrought metal elements which are rigidly integrated.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings: Figure I is a plan view of a motor conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II is an elevation of the right hand side of said motor as indicated in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a front end elevation of said motor.

Fig. IV is a vertical transverse sectional view of said motor, taken on the line IV, IV in Fig. I. N v

Fig. V is a horizontal sectional view of the upper spring drum of said motor, and its appurtenances. 1

Fig. VI is an elevation of one end of one of the springs shown in section in the other figures.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary sectional view, showing the construction and arrangement ofthe adjustable bearing for the worm shaft.-

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary sectional view showing the construction and arrangement of the governor mechanism.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary plansectional view of the winding shaft and its tubular bearing, showing a noiseless clutch in said bearing arranged to permit said shaft to turn in the proper direction but prevent it from turning in the opposite direction.

As ordinarily In said figures; the motor frame includes the two plane sheet metal plates 1 and 2, in parallel spaced relation, the top plate 1 having the flange 3 bent toward the bottom plate 2, at right angles to its plane. Said plates are rigidly connected by the three cylindrical standards 5, each having, its upper end rivet headed in engagement with said plate 1 and having at its lower end a screw 6 extending through said plate 2, forming means detachably rigidly connecting it with said plates.

The spring arbor 8 is journaled in said plates 1 and 2, parallel with and between said standards 5, as best shown in Fig. I. The upper spring drum 10 is mounted loose on said arbor and carries, detachably rigidly connected with said drum by the screws 11, the upper drum gear12 which is also fitted to turn freely on said arbor 8. The spring 14 inclosed by said drum 10 is connected at its outer end to said drum, by engagement of its slot 15 (shown in Fig. VI), with the stud 16 which is riveted in said drum 10 as shown at the right hand side of Figs. IV and V. The inner end of said spring 14 is connected to said arbor 8 by the stud 18 which is, however, detachably fitted in the opening 19 in said arbor. For convenience of illustration, only a few convolutions of the springs are shown in the drawings. However, it is to be understood that said springs actually include many more convolutions, in correspondingly closer relation,

' and that it is impossible to accidentally displace said stud 18 from its seat in said arbor 8, in which it is detachably fitted to permit the parts to be assembled as hereinafter described.

The lower spring drum 21 is also mounted to turn freely on said arbor 8, and carries, rigidly connected therewith by the screws 22, (similar to the screws 11, but not shown) the lower drum gear 23. Said drum 21 incloses the spring 25, having its outer end connected to the stud 26, which is riveted in said drum, and its inner end connected to the stud 27 which is loosely fitted in the opening 28 in said arbor.

The bearing tube 30, shown in Figs. I. II, III and IX is rigidly mounted in said flange 3, in radial relation to said arbor 8. The winding shaft 31 is journaled in said hearing tube 30 and has the gear 32 engaging said upper drum gear 12 as indicated in Figs. II and III. The main shaft 34 is I journaled, parallel with said spring arbor 8,

in said plates 1 and 2 and has its upper portion tapered for detachable engagement with rotary tables for turning sound record disks of any suitable construction. The counter shaft extends parallel with said arbor 8 and main shaft 34, as best shown in Fig. IV,

and the worm shaft. 37, which carries the worm 38, extends parallel with said wind ing shaft 31, as best-shown in Fig. I. A train of gears which connects said lower drum gear 23 with said counter shaft, main shaft and worm shaft, includes the gear which is rigidly connected with said counter shaft 35, which. also has rigidly connected therewith the gear 41 engaging the pinlon 42 which is rigidly mounted on said shaft 34. Said shaft 34 also has, rigidly mounted thereon, the worm gear 43 which engages said worm 38, as indicated in Fig. I.

Said worm gear 43 and the worm shaft 37 are included in said motor structure merely for the purpose of conveniently actuating the governor mechanism, which is operativelyconnected with said worm shaft 37. Said governor mechanism includes the friction disk 45 having the hub 46 and axially movable on said shaft 37'; means operatively 1 connecting said shaft and disk, tending to axially shift said disk in accordance with the rate of rotation of said shaft, including the sheet metal springs 47 which are detachably connected to said disk hub by the screws 48, and detachably connected, by the screws 50, to the collar 51 which is fixed on said shaft, and weights 52 which are carried by said springs to which they are detachably connected by the screws 49. The construction and arrangement. is such that as the rate of rotation of said shaft 37 increases, said friction disk 45 is drawn toward said fixed collar 51, by outward fiexure of said springs 47. Such motion is opposed by contact of said disk with the brake block 53 (shown in Fig. VIII) which is conveniently formed of oiled leather detachably engaged between opposite flanges 54 on the brake lever 55 which is fulcrumed at its upper corner 56 upon the under face of said frame plate 1. Said brake lever is pressed toward said disk 45 by the spring 58 which is mounted upon the screw 59 which extends through said lever in screw threaded engagement with said plate 1 in which it is jammed by the nut 60. Said lever 55 is prevented from turning horizontally upon said screw 59 by engagement with the opposite side walls of the slot 62 in the flange 3 of said plate 1, through which said lever extends as shown in Fig. III.

In the position shown in Fig. VIII; said lever 55 is held, by said spring 58, in such position as to prevent rotation of said friction disk 45, and consequently stop the motor. However, it is to. be understood that said lever may be depressed to shift said brake block 53 more or less to the right in Fig. VIII, and that the position to which it is thus adjusted will predetermine and limit the maximum rate of rotation of said worm shaft 37, and, consequently, of said maindriving shaft 34. That is to say, the maximum limit of rotation of said shaft 34, permitted by said governor mechanism, increases with the increase of movement. of said brake block 53 toward the right in F ig. VIII; and increase of the predetermined rate is prevented by frictional engagement of said disk 45 with said brake 53 when that rate is reached, and, as said governor mechanism is so constructed and arranged that it may be used to entirely prevent rotation of said shaft 34, (and thus serve as a stop mechanism) said mechanism may be utilized to predetermine any rate of rotation of said shaft 34, up to the maximum of which the motor is capable. As there is considerable variation in the location of the governor controlling devices which are ordinarily mounted upon the casings in which such motors are inclosed; I find it convenient to provide said lever 55 with means whereby it may be adapted for o eration in correspondence with the variations in the location of its actuating means on the casing. Therefore, I provide said lever with the arm 63 conveniently pivotally connected therewith by the rivet 64, so that it may be angularly adjusted, as indicated in Fig. I, to register with any suitable device upon the casing inclosing said motor, whereby said lever 55' may be depressed against the action of said spring 58.

In order that said worm gear 43 may properly engage said worm 38, to actuate the governor mechanism above described; it is necessary to primarily assemble and subsequently maintain them in proper relative position in the motor frame. Therefore, I find it desirable to provide means for precisely adjusting said shaft 37 toward and away from the axis of said worm gear 43, which 1s the axis of said main driving shaft 34. As shown in Figs. I, IV and VII; the

end of said shaft 37 adjacent said worm gear 43 is journaled in the socket 66 in the bear- 1ng block 67 which is preferably made of hard steel to afford a durable thrust bearing for said shaft 37, which'is pressed axially purtenances are claimed in my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States which is Serial Number 115,502. Moreover, in order to minimize such vibra fsaid; arbor, shall be detachably fitted in said arbor, so as to permit the axial movement of tion of said thrust bearing as would otherwise be permitted by the elasticity and consequent flexure of said frame plate 1; I pre-" fer to stiffen said plate 1 by the reinforcing.

plate 72 which is rigidly connected therewith by the shank 73 of said stud. 68 which extends throughsaid plates 72 and 1, and is rivet headed in engagement with the latter as indicated in Fig. VII. Said plates are also rigidly connected by the rivet 7 4: at the inner end of said plate 72, as indicated in Figs. I and VII. It may be observed that, as shown in Fig. IV, said reinforcing plate 72 serves as a supplementary bearing for said main shaft 34', in addition to the bearing in said frame plate 1; so that the upper bearing for said shaft '34, which is subjected to the greater portion of the stresses upon said shaft incident to the manipulation of the tables and sound records which it is designed to turn, is reinforced against deforming stresses and wear, by said plate 72.

The proper engagement of said winding gear 32, with the upper drum gear 2 is, of course, dependent upon the assembling and maintenance of said two gears in the proper relation. As shown in Fig. IV, both of the drums 10 and 21, and the gears respectively connected therewith, and which are necessarily loosely mounted on the arbor 8, rest upon each other. Therefore, slight variation in the thickness of the sheet metal from which said drums and gears are pressed would cause variation in the vertical position of said gear 12 unless means were provided'to compensate for such variation and insure the presentation of said gear 12 in such vertical position as to properly cooperate with said winding gear 32. I find it convenient to afford such adjustment by pro' viding said arbor 8 with an abutment extending transversely to its axis and with respect to which the elements carried by said arbor 8 are precisely positioned. As shown in Fig. IV, such an abutment is formed by the collar 75 which is driven upon said arbor 8 so as to be rigidly connected therewith. A

v series of thin sheet metal washers 76 is interposed between said abutment and the adjacent face of the lower drum gear 23, of such number and thickness as to present said gear 12 in the desired position. It may be observed that the vertical adjustment of said gear 23 with respect to the gear 40 upon thetcounter shaft 35 with which it meshes, does not alter the cooperative relation of said gears. Such means for adjusting the position of said drums upon said arbor 8, necessitates that said drums shall be placed upon and removed from the end of said arbor opposite to said abutment. Consequently, it is necessary that both of the-studs 18 and 27, by whichthe ends of the'respectivesprings .1 1 and 25 are connected with said l0 and 21 and gears 12 and 23 upon said arbor. Said drums and their apaggregate thickness areplaced upon sald abutment 75.

thrust mto t e opening 28 in said arbor 8 as shown in. Fig. IV. The drum 21, containing the spring 25 in engagement with its stud 26, is then placed upon said arbor per drum gear 12 is then placed on said ai and the inner end of said spring snapped into engagement with said stud 27. The upbor, and the stud 18 thrust into the opening 19 in said arbor. The drum 10, containing the spring 14: engaged with its stud 16, is .then placed on sald arbor and its inner end snapped into engagement with said stud 18; said drums being then ri idly connected with their respective gears, y the screws 11 and 22; the parts are assembled in the co-' operative relation shown in Fig.- IV.

Although I find it convenient to place the adjusting washers 76 directly upon said abutmentv 75; it is to be understood that said abutment may be fixed at such a level upon said arbor 8 as to directly support the lower drum gear 23, without the interposition of any adjusting washer, and such washers as are required may be interposed between the upper end of said drum 21 and the lower face of the upper drum gear 12.

In either case; the adjustment is effected with reference to a stationary abutment upon said arbor '8 which precisely determines the position in which the upper drum gear 12 is presented and maintained with respect to said gear 32 which meshes with it. It is convenient to form said abutment H by a sheet metal collar pressed on said arbor 8 as above described, merely because of the low cost of such construction, and itis to be understood that a suitable abutment may be formed by a shoulder on said arbor in unitary relation therewith; of course, necessitating the use of a larger diameter of metal than is required by the construction shown. Or said abutment may be formed by a collar which is adjustable axially on saidarbor and secured in adjusted position by a set screw.

Although I find it convenient to make said gears 12 and 32 of substantially flat sheet metal stampings, because they may be thus made atvless cost thangotherwise; of course, they may be respectively beveled for cooperative engagement in the ordinary manner. In either case, the method of adpermitting said winding shaft' to turn in the proper direction, but preventing it fromturning in the opposite direction. As best shown in Fig. IX, said clutch includes the coil 80 of spring wire in said tubular bearing 30, in frictional engagement with said shaft 31, with its outer end free, but having its inner end extending tangentially through the opening 81 in said bearing 30 and forming the bight 82 exterior to said bearing.

Said inner end of said clutch coil is held stationary by means exterior to said bear-- ing 30, conveniently including the screw 83 extending through said bight in engagement with said flange 3.

$aid friction clutch is claimed in my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States which is SerialNumber 115,504.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangementherein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended'claims.

I claim 1. In a spring motor, a frame including two plane sheet metal plates, in parallel spaced relation,'one having a flange'bent to ward the other, at right angles to its plane, and cylindrical standards, each riveted in one of said plates and having screw mea detachably rigidly connecting it with the other of said plates; a spring arbor journaled in said plates, parallel with and between said standards; a spring drum loose on said arbor and having a gear; a spring in said drum having one end connected to said drum and the other end connected to said arbor; a second spring drum loose on said arbor and having a gear; a spring in said second drum having one end connected to said drum and the other end connectedv to said arbor; a bearing tube rigidly mounted in said flange in radial relation to said arbor; a windin shaft journaled in said bearing tube an having a gear engagi said first drum gear; a main shaft parallel I with said arbor; a counter shaft parallel with said arbor; a worm shaft parallel with said winding shaft; and a trainof gears connecting said second drum gear with said counter shaft, main shaft, and worm shaft;

and a governor mechanism operatively connected with said worm shaft.

2. In a spring motor, a frame including two metal plates, in parallel spaced relation,

one having a flange extending toward the other, at right angles to its plane, and standards, detachably rigidly connecting said plates; a spring arbor journaled in said plates; a spring drum loose on said arbor and having a gear; a spring in said drum having one end connected to said drum andv 1 the other end connected to said arbor; a second spring drum loose on said arbor and having a gear; a sprlng 1n sald second drum havingaone end connected to said drum and the other endconnected to said; arbor; a bearing tube rigidly mounted in said flange worm shaft.

3. In a spring motor, a frame including two plane sheet metal plates, in parallel spaced relation, one having a flange bent toward the other, at right angles to its plane, and standards, detachably rigidly connecting said plates; a spring arbor journaled in said plates, parallel with and between said standards; a spring drum loose on said arbor and having a gear; a spring in said drum having one 'end connected to said drum and the other end connected to said arbor; a bearing tube rigidly mounted in said flange in radial relation to said arbor; a winding shaft journaled in said bearing tube and having a ear engaging said drum gear; a main shaft parallel with said arbor; a

counter shaft parallel with said arbor; a

worm shaft parallel with said windin' shaft; and a train of gears connecting said second drum gear with said counter shaft,.

main shaft, and worm shaft; and a governor mechanism operatively connected with said worm shaft.

4. In a spring motor, a frame including twometal plates, in spaced relation, one having a flange extending toward the other, and means detachably rigidly connecting said plates; a spring arbor journaled in said plates; a spring drum on said arbor, having; a gear; a bearin tube rigidly mounted in said fiange in radial relation to said arbor; a winding shaft journaledin said bearing tube and having a ear engaging said drum gear; and a clutch in said tube permitting said winding shaft to turn in the proper direction, but preventing it from turning in the opposite direction.

5. In a spring motor, the combination with an arbor, having a fixed abutment, extending transversely to its axis; of two drums having bearings fitted to turn on said arbor, upon the same side of said abutment; and two springs, respectively mounted in said drums, each having its outer end detachably connected with its drum, and its inner end detachably connectedwith said arbor; the spring attaching means on said arbor being studs which are respectively detachable therefrom to permit the passage of said bearings to and from the end of said arbor remote from said abutment.

(i. In a spring motor, the combination with an arbor, having a fixed abutment, extending transversely to its axis; of two drums having bearings fitted to turn on said arbor, upon the sameside of said abutment; and two springs, respectively mounted in said drums, each having its outer end detachably connected with its drum, and its inner end detachably connected with said arbor.

7 In a spring motor, a frame including a sheet metal plate having a flange bent at right angles to its planea bearing in said flange for one end of a shaft; a reinforcing plate; and a stud riveted through said two plates, at one end, and having a shaft bearing at its other end, in alinement with said bearing in said flange.

8. In a spring motor, a frame including a sheet metal plate having a flange bent at right angles to its plane; abearing in said flange for one end of a shaft; and a stud riveted through said plate, at having a shaft bearing at its other end, in alinement with said bearing in said flange.

9. In a spring motor, the combination with a frame including three parallel plates, the intermediate plate being in contact with one of the outer plates and in spaced relation with the other plate; of means rigidly connecting said contiguous plates, including a stud having a shaft bearing; means detachably rigidly connecting said outer plates, independently of said intermediate plate; a spring arbor journaled in said one end, and

dependent outer plates, independently of said intermediate plate; a main shaft journaled in all three plates; means operatively connecting said arbor and main shaft; a governor shaft journaled in said stud bearing and means operatively connecting said mam shaft with said governor shaft.

10. In a spring motor, the combination with a frame including three parallel plates, the intermediate plate being in contact with one of the outer plates and in spaced relation with the other plate; of means rigidly connecting said contiguous plates; means detachably rigidly connecting said outer plates, independently of said intermediate plate; a spring arbor jourrialed in said outer plates, independently of said intermediate plate; a main shaft journaled in all three plates; means operatively connecting said arbor and main shaft; a governor shaft; and means operatively connecting said main shaft with said governor shaft.

11. In a spring motor, the combination with three parallel frame'plates, mediate plate being in contact with one of the outer plates and in spaced relation with the other plate; of means rigidly connecting said contiguous plates, including a stud, independent of said other outer plate and having an adjustable shaft bearing at its free end; of a shaft journaled in said stud hearing; a spring arborjournaled in two of said frames; and means operatively connecting said shaft and arbor.

12. In a spring motor, with three parallel frame plates, mediate plate being in contact with one of the outer plates and in spaced relation with the other plate; of means rigidly connecting said contiguous plates, including a stud, in-

of said other outer plate and havlng a shaft bearing; of a shaft journaled in said stud bearing; a spring arbor the combination 'journaled in two of said frames; and means operatively connecting said shaft and arbor. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto igned my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this twenty-second day of June, 1916.

THEO CLIFFORD WHITING. Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, ANNA ISRAELVITZ.

the interthe inter- 

